Podars - Commitment and Contribution to Society

The history of various charities of Podars began with the Anandilal Podar Charitable Society (Erstwhile the Anandilal Podar Education Society) founded in 1921 by a donation by Mr. Anandilal Podar of Rs. 2, 00,001 to Mahatma Gandhi for the Tilak Swaraj Fund. In recognition of the large donation and first by a businessman to the Tilak Swaraj Fund in the most turbulent and oppressive period of the country, Mahatma Gandhi agreed to be the first Chairman Trustee of the Society. The other founder Trustees of the Society were Mr. Madan Mohan Malviya, Mr. Jamanalal Bajaj and Mr. Anandilal Podar.

One of the main objectives of the Society was to spread Education, Measures for Health Care, Recreation etc. To give concrete shape to these objectives the society established various institutions bearing the name of Podars, presently numbering over 37 comprising of Schools, Post Graduate Colleges, the first Institute of Management in Rajasthan, Vocational Training Center, Labour Recreation Center, Ayurvedic Hospital of 260 Beds, Hostels, Ayurvedic Medical Research Center, Ayurvedic Post Graduate College, Deaf & Dumb School, Sports Pavilion, and Recreational Park etc.

Over 30,000 students are studying at present in the Institutions established by the Society.

The Institutions spread from:

Nawalgarh - Rajasthan (13 Nos.)

Jaipur - Rajasthan (4 Nos.)

Bhawanimandi - Rajasthan (2 Nos.)

Mumbai - Maharashtra (18 Nos.)

Inside Gate of Podar Haveli (Palace), Nawalgarh

Podar College, Nawalgarh

Ramnath Anandilal Podar Institute of Management, Jaipur

Podar Medical College - Bombay

Minutes of the First Meeting of the Anandilal Education Society, now renamed The Anandilal Podar Trust, signed by all four trustees. viz., Shri Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Madan Mohan Malviya, Shri Jamnalal Bajaj and Shri Anandilal Podar, 2nd August 1922